Sure it might be cold out there. It’s winter after all and depending on where you live you might even be faced with the prospect of snow on the ground. But did you know sometimes the best deals happen during the off-season? If you’re thinking of adding a new Corvette to the garage this year, there is isn’t a better place to look than the Corvettes available from our classified ads web site VetteFinders.com. With over 500 Corvettes for sale, from C1s to C6s, you’re sure to find the Corvette of your dreams. Below is just a sampling from our bi-monthly “Featured Corvettes for Sale” newsletter representing a Corvette for sale from each generation.

Selling Your Corvette? Now is the time and VetteFinders.com is the place to reach more qualified Corvette Buyers. Corvette Classified Ads are only $25 and run for 3 months. You can post unlimited photos and you have access to make any changes at any time.

We’d like to thank the guys over at Keith Martin’s Corvette Market for selecting CorvetteBlogger.com as their featured Corvette website in their latest email newsletter. CorvetteBlogger.com was founded in the Summer of 2005 as an information vehicle to discuss three pillars surrounding the Corvette hobby: Corvette Buying and Selling, Corvette News and Information, and the Lifestyle that surrounds owning the great American Sports Car. If this is your first time to CorvetteBlogger.com, please check us out and consider subscribing to our site via RSS or email.

If you’re not a subscriber to Corvette Market magazine, they are offering a limited subscriber special for $22. Corvette Market magazine is a must-read if you like to follow the latest trends in Corvette pricing and valuations. But you better hurry, to get this special rate you need to subscribe before midnight, Wednesday January 30th.

It’s the news Corvette Racing fans been waiting to hear. An Aston Martin DBR9 will be launching an American LeMans Series GT1 effort in 2008. The team will be funded by Jim Bell and will race under the Bell Motorsports banner. Jim is a 30 year veteran of sports car racing and an engineer by trade. He will be joined by new partner Michael Fux. Bell has played an integral part of various teams raging from prototype to most recently the Team Transport Porsche 911 GT3 car in last yearâ€™s ALMS season. His last GT1 experience came back in 2005 with ACEMCO Motorsports Saleen S7R.

Bell Motorsports’ Aston Martin DBR9 turned up the fourth annual Winter Test at Sebring on Monday wearing the trademark British Green exterior with neon green lipstick and red wheels. The car is listed as #08 and features a GT1 class designation on her sides. According to those who watched the Aston during Monday’s testing sessions, the team is displaying some caution as they warm to the feeling of the car and the track. This particular DBR9 was built in 2005 and sold to a private collector but has never officially raced.

The #08 Aston Martin DBR9 will be going up against the two C6.R’s fielded by Corvette Racing in the GT1 class on March 15th at the 56th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the first of twelve ALMS races. Corvette Racing finished 1-2 at Sebring last year despite competition from another Aston Martin DBR9 fielded by Team Modena.

“Aston Martin always has made a premium race car and automobile,” said Bell, team principal, “and there is no better place to showcase a premium brand than in the American Le Mans Series. Having been involved with the Series since its inception, I know it will be an extraordinary challenge but itâ€™s one we all relish and look forward to. We enjoyed competing in the American Le Mans Series with the ACEMCO Saleen S7R against Corvette Racing in 2005 and at Le Mans in 2006. I think we have developed a mutual, competitive respect for one another, and having the chance to rekindle that in 2008 makes me proud and eager with anticipation.”

Competition breeds success and this announcement puts Corvette Racing on notice that if they wish to win their eighth consecutive championship, they’ll have to beat a top notch team with a proven winning ride, the Aston Martin DBR9. And something tells me Corvette Racing’s Manager Doug Fehan couldn’t be happier right now.

You know that feeling. You’re cruising a few miles over the speed limit when you top a hill or round a corner and come face to face with The Man. But this time he ain’t driving a Ford Crown Vic or a Chevy Impala. The Man is behind the wheel of a 2009 Corvette ZR1 and you might as well be riding a bicycle.
As a fan of Corvette police cars, this picture put a smile on face today. Someone sent GM’s Bob Lutz a photochopped Corvette ZR1 decked out in Michigan State Police graphics and featuring the prerequisite light bar, bumper guard and awesome blacked out wheels. Without regard to notifying the PR department who were baffled by the incoming calls from new media outlets, Bob uploaded the image to GM’s Fastlane Blog with the following quote:

Keith Martin’s Corvette Market magazine held a self-described Insider’s Seminar where he and a panel of Corvette expert’s discussed the Corvette Market and its trends from yesterday, today and tomorrow. The seminar was held at the Russo and Steele event on January 18th in Scottsdale. Here is a brief video which shows the panel discussing the Corvette market with the question on the table being “What Corvette would you buy for $100,000?”

Last Saturday at the Detroit Auto Show, the National Corvette Museum revealed the new Corvette ZR1 to a select group of members. We were unable to attend the event, but one of our friends and regular readers, 16-year old Justin Society was there and offered to share his experience and a couple photos of the event. Justin’s enthusiasm for Corvette is infectious and the hobby should be thankful when a young man takes an interest in Corvette the way Justin has.

From the Summerset Hotel, four greyhound buses picked up approximately 150 to 200 NCM members. Everyone felt like the bus ride took forever, our looking forward to seeing the ZR1 was definitely the cause. When we arrived at the Cobo center we were given tickets and then waited in the lobby. We soon proceeded to walk through the desolate show floor where the covered Lambo’s and new R8 were held. As we made our way through the Dodge environment, NCM members took a minute to stare at the Viper and think how badly the ZR1 will outperform their leviathan.

When the NCM members entered the GM territory we saw a small blanketed shape in the Chevrolet portion, we all started walking faster to see the Corvette Team who was standing next to the car. Harlen Charles, Kirk Bennian and Tom Wallace were some of many representatives from GM who were standing by.

We experienced a 40 minute presentation by Harlen Charles, Kirk Bennian and Tom Wallace and then after the presentation anyone on the Corvette staff was open to any questions.

I personally asked questions to Harlen Charles and Kirk Bennian and they were happy to answer them. I was assured of a Corvette design that kept traditional but pushed the envelope a little bit further, especially in efficiency in aerodynamics. Harlen also acknowledged that Corvette may go on a diet but it would still remain competitive with its main competition and would not make too many sacrifices that would jeopardize its world class performance. He did not say so but he seemed very confident that the C6 has a little more life left in it.

The convention was starting to open to the public and people slowly started trickling into the ZR1 area. Some were amazed to see a group with matching shirts and the more Corvette savvy individuals were even more amazed to see Tom Wallace talking to people.

Thanks again Justin for sharing your NCM experience at the Detroit Auto Show.

Cool weather and an occasional shower were not enough to slow down the buyers from coming out to Mecum’s High Performance Auction this weekend in Kissimmee Florida. One of the star cars of the auction was this 1953 Corvette, serial #112. This Corvette was previously offered in 2007 and was the only no-sale out of the eight 1953 Corvettes we saw at auctions last year. At the Mecum’s High Performance Auction in St. Charles back in October it received a high-bid of $225,000.

Serial #112 appears to be the real deal. Featuring matching numbers and the owner’s history, this Corvette spent most of its life in Northern Indiana in St. Joseph County. It comes optioned with powerglide transmission, wonderbar radio, emergency brake warning light, windshield washers, courtesy lights, heater, hubcaps and 6.70×15″ wide white tires.

At the Kissimmee Auction, a high bid from Terry Michaelis of Proteam Corvette for $238,000 was enough to sell the Corvette this time around as it was reserved up to $235,000. Total price for the first-year Corvette after the 10% buyers commission was $261,800.
UPDATE: When Mecum published the official results from the Kissimmee auction, this 1953′s price with sales commission was listed as $249,900.

Just a quick note about my experience at the Mecum auction. I’ve been going to the Kissimmee auctions for about 10 years now since it was paired up with the NCRS winter regional. It’s amazing how big this auction has become. Huge tents everywhere keep the Corvettes and other muscle cars cool and dry in case of inclement weather. Plenty of seating is availble for non-bidders and this year’s auction featured a couple of bars. Vendors are on the ground and there were plenty of choices for food. Mecum really puts on a great auction and if you enjoyed watching the Barrett-Jackson auction on TV, then you owe it to yourself to get out and see one of these large multi-car auctions live.

Following up on our story earlier this week about Tom Wallace talking about building a lighter, greener Corvette, we have heard from Motor Trend’s well connected sources inside GM that say the Corvette C7 project is currently on hold. It seems the automaker is working to address the interim mileage requirements in advance of the 2020 35 mpg regulations. According to MT, that study could keep development of the C7 on the shelf until late 2009.

One of the strategies that Corvette may have been pursuing in the design of the C7 also appears to have gone by the wayside according our favorite former Detroit adman Peter De Lorenzo of AutoExtremist.com. Pete said last year that the midengined C7 Corvette was a go as GM had addressed the technologies needed to allow for production of a midengined Corvette while still retaining a price point that would effectively guarantee the car could still be available for the masses. De Lorenzo now says that those technologies that were reported as solved apparently were more complex than originally thought so therefore the midengined Corvette won’t be happening anytime soon.

Tom Wallace also commented on a midengined Corvette saying it has the potential to be more fuel efficient but there are currently too many roadblocks to production including the ability to build an affordable convertible model. (I guess it’s tricky finding the space to store the top because the damn engine is in the way!)

And with Wallace again talking about reductions in weight and power, it may be they are taking a hard look again at the Kappa platform, which is set to move to Bowling Green in 2012 anyways.

The stopping and starting of a next-generation Corvette project is nothing new for GM. It happened several times to the C5 Corvette according to the book “All Corvettes Are Red”, so it should only be a matter of time before we hear the green light has once again been given. In the meantime, I’m sure the boys in the design studio will probably still find the time for working on the C7, the next great American sports car.

I’ll admit it. I am a bit of a Callaway fanboy. Late last year I named Reeves Callaway to my list of 5 Corvette people I’d like to meet. Ever since the B2K twin turbo package from the late eighties, he’s consistently been one of the most knowledgeable and creative forces in the Corvette aftermarket. So when I saw the new photos of the 2008 Callaway Corvette package, I can’t help but to let out a gasp and a few ohhs and ahhs.

Callaway Cars, the Corvette super tuner shows off their new supercharger package that gives the C6 Corvette’s 6.2L LS3 a kick in the shorts by adding 150 horsepower yet keeping the car emissions-compliant in all 50 states. The upgrades will cost you $18,500 and are backed by Reeve’s superior craftsmanship and a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty to boot. With horsepower greater than a Z06, but costing less than the new ZR1, the Callaway Corvette could just well be the middle ground for the serious performance enthusiast.

The package consists of GM’s LS3 engine, an Eaton/Magnuson roots-style supercharger, an air/liquid intercooler, upgraded fuel system with high-flow injectors, Callaway Honker cold air intake and a custom computer tune. A new hood painted to match and a silver “power bulge” and custom insignias round out the Callaway look.

With the 2008 package, you can expect 580 hp with 510 lb-ft of torque and a top speed, or maximum velocity as its stated of 200 mph. The Callaway Corvette is available in either coupe or convertible, with a standard or paddle-shift 6-speed automatic, and you can order directly through the factory or deliver your own car. Callaway has several other high performance upgrades including suspension, brakes, wheels and tires.

But I’m not through gushing about Callaway yet. Tuners tend to like the view from the top. So while Chevy was getting set to release their new 620 horsepower king of the hill ZR1, Reeves decided a little upgrade of the their widely successful C16 Callaway was in order. Now, the hand built LS3s are fortified with an intercooled supercharger, CNC ported cylinder heads, upgraded valvetrain, Callaway cold-air intake and free-flowing exhaust to achieve an incredible 650 horsepower and 585 lb-ft of torque.

The C16′s contain a host of upgrades from the stand Corvette including a whole new exterior skin, while the interior features lush leather upgrades and Callaway’s signature badges just about anyplace they’d stick.

Over the last few years, the mantra at Corvette has been more performance, more horsepower. But the passage of the new energy bill that raises the CAFE standards to an average of 35 mpg will undoubtedly force GM’s engineers to rethink performance while pursuing economy first. The results will be a lighter, greener Corvette that will not only survive the 35 mpg standard, but should thrive in it as well.

The standard Corvette coupe and convertible models already get a highly respectable 28 mpg highway average despite being powered by the 6.2 liter 430 hp LS3. With its fiberglass panels and hydroformed aluminum frame, the current Corvette already weighs in at a lean 3200 pounds. According to Tom Wallace, GM’s Performance Vehicle Line Executive, the future Corvette will be a sports car where fuel economy and a reduced carbon footprint can coexist with performance as long as engineers pay attention to the ever important weight to horsepower ratio.

Wallace won’t talk specifics about the C7 Corvette, but he told Automotive News that if the Corvette’s weight was dropped 300 to 400 pounds and was powered by a 4.7 Liter V8 with about 150 less hp than the current LS3, the weight to horsepower ratio is essentially the same as the current standard C6 Corvette.

While the Corvette ZR1 makes extensive use of carbon fiber as a weight saving material, the cost is currently prohibitive in the standard models. But that could change by the time the C7 is developed.

It’s also possible that by the year 2012 when the new C7 Corvette is expected that we will see the next generation of fuel efficient engines that utilize both gasoline and ethanol. With the trickle-down effect that Corvette Racing has on its regular production-bred siblings, its a natural evolution for there to be an E85 powered Corvette coming directly from the assembly plant at Bowling Green. Corvette Racing tells us that ethanol based fuel has a higher octane rating so the combination of the new engines powered by ethanol combined with a lighter body may get Corvette close to the 35 mpg highway average.

Two other factors help Corvette as well. First, the amount of Corvettes produced in recent years averages roughly 35,000 cars compared to the nearly 4 million GM sells domestically, so the impact of the Corvette’s highway MPG figure is smaller than that of one of GM’s mass-produced vehicles. Secondly, GM’s investment in alternative fuel solutions and new products like the Chevy Volt are likely to increase the automaker’s average significantly if the market is there to support them.

Corvette enthusiasts may have to swallow the reduced horsepower pill like we had to with the C3 Corvettes. The good news is that unlike the Seventies, GM won’t simply cut performance to increase mileage standards. Performance will always be one of the governing covenants of the Corvette, and with the looming changes on the horizon, there will be room for a green Corvette.

Charles D. Fowler, III: I stopped subsribing to both after many years, and within a year or two of even having a “feature” article accepted and published, after meeting Corvette Fever execs at Carlisle. With the merger, I...

Jeff McKay: I also asked a local dealer and they knew nothing about it. How do I order it myself? I think that would be faster than trying to convince them they should know about it.

CrystalKnight: I have always loved the 63, one of my favorite classics of all time, and I have had a many sports cars…, owned and loved the C5 even though it was heavy and underpowered, owned and loved the C6 convertible. ….I...

CrystalKnight: I have always loved the 63, one of my favorite classics of all time, and I have had a many sports cars…, owned and loved the C5 even though it was heavy and underpowered, owned and loved the C6 convertible. ….I...

tonyman262: I have an 89 C4 & an 07 C6, both white. After seeing the CUE system; the daughter may get the 07, I NEED a C7 with the CUE system. The 89 C4 stays with me. The C7 (artic white of course) could just end up being the new...